I should start by saying two things about this post. Firstly I felt compelled to write partly to get things of my chest (a very apt phrase as you’ll discover reading on) and with the thought that maybe it will help someone else. Secondly I never wanted to write about my dress on my blog. I kinda felt it was a bit too personal and private to share with the World Wide Web.
Writing this I hope is therapeutic as I have been worrying an awful lot!
When I first looked around for dresses I did everything sensibly. I took my time, went to quite a few shops, listened to the advice of the shop assistants, tried on every style of dress and took my mum for a second opinion. I tired on lots of dresses I loved from big poofy affairs that I was surprised to find I loved to mermaid styles. Eventually though I realised that lace was the look I was after: Its very ‘me’ – I’ve an old fashioned romantic at heart. We went to a bridal shop near my mums with a wide selection of lace dresses and none were quite right. Then the assistant suggested I try on one that she particularly liked which I wouldn’t have picked out for myself. It was a light gold colour not ivory as I thought I would go for and it had flowers at the bustline (I don’t like too many ‘add-ons’ to my clothes). The dress was the sample size 8 and I am a size 12 so I didn’t think I’d be able to try the dress at all. But low and behold I managed to get into it and then the assistant held it at the back. Wow, it was the first dress that left both my mum and I speechless. The lace was one of the most beautiful I’d seen with an amazing train. The fabric has small sparkles in it that glistened as I walked (just imagine it by candlelight). And the colour instead of looking like a brash gold, made the lace look more ‘antiquey’ and less new. It gave me an amazing shape and my bust, which I had worried about as I am buxom young lady, seemed to become a seamless part of the dress. Even the flowers looked good.
We went away and then a few weeks later came back to try on the dress. We still loved it and so ordered it straight away. That was in May and then we had to wait till September for it to be delivered.
A couple of weeks ago I got the call to say the dress had arrived and so I went joined by mum and future mum-in-law to go for the first fitting. When I tried on the dress all there was breast. Mountains and mountains of breast it seemed to me. Argh what had happened. The bust area had fitted so well before and now my boobs were too exposed. Mum and I then realised that because the assistant had been holding the dress so tight against my body in the smaller size that it wasn’t a realistic impression of what it would look like in my size. The bust can be taken in a little at the side seams. And we’re going to need some sort of strap to pull the front up so my breasts are more supported. I’m hoping this solves most of the issues but can’t be sure yet. Here’s what the dress would look like with me holding it up…
And the train…
I have to wait till the end of October to see what ideas the seamstress comes up with. She thought maybe a cap sleeve made of tulle with the satin strap attached to the side for support.
Another problem though that has been playing on my mind since I tried on the dress is that when I’m strapped very tightly into the dress I have more support but I get the dreaded back fat crease eck! What bride wants back fat?! So I’ve come up with a few more ideas for dress adaptations. I thought of maybe a shrug made of lace or tulle that would cover my front and back similar to this
Mine would probably have to be plainer as I have so much going on with the lace. We could also go with something similar that wasn’t a shrug but attached to the inside of the dress.
Or my mum suggested adding a ruffled ribbon to the top of the dress perhaps with ruffled straps too.
I’d be very grateful for any further suggestions and ideas.
Its a horrible feeling not fully confident about your wedding dress as there’s so much pressure to look perfect on your wedding day. Sent me into a bit a mini panic that involved me considering a quick diet (I love food to much to have ever considered dieting in the past) and a whole change of dress. Till I realised that I feel comfortable and brilliant as I am and that the dress will be adapted to work for me. I love my dress really – I just want the top half to be as fabulous as the bottom!
To any buxom ladies who are starting to look for their dress. Remember what I said about trying on the wrong size. It might not give you the right impression of how it will look on your bust when its in your size. I have since found a great website with tips on how to choose a strapless dress if you are busty. Among the ideas are: Bend over and sit down in the dress. Does it still look nice on you? Everything pushes up when you sit in a dress. The neckline should be high enough that you “feel comfortable” in it and not constantly pulling it up. Read the whole article here
Phew, feel a little better letting that all out!
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